Postwar Heirs to the Classical Tradition

This set of flashcards covers important concepts, composers, techniques, and movements examined in the lecture on Postwar Heirs to the Classical Tradition.

tonal traditionalism

Individual styles characterized by tonality or neotonality, seeking to communicate with a varied public through identifiable themes.

Samuel Barber

An American composer known for his commitment to tonality and works including 'Adagio for Strings' and 'Violin Concerto'.

Benjamin Britten

A prominent English composer who balanced tonal traditions with modernism and was known for works like 'Peter Grimes' and 'War Requiem'.

Olivier Messiaen

A French composer who integrated religious themes and unique musical techniques, known for his work 'Quartet for the End of Time'.

post-tonal language

A musical language used by composers after tonality that includes non-diatonic modes and harmonic stasis.

total serialism

A technique where the principle of tone rows is applied to parameters beyond just pitch.

Milton Babbitt

An American composer known for early applications of serial principles to duration and innovative approaches to rhythm.

Karlheinz Stockhausen

A German composer recognized for his contributions to electronic music, serialism, and integrated sound composition.

Pierre Boulez

A French composer who used serial techniques and is well-known for works like 'Le marteau sans maître'.

prepared piano

A piano modified with objects to produce unique percussive sounds, pioneered by John Cage.

chance music

A technique where elements of music are left to chance, used by composers such as John Cage.

indeterminacy

An approach where certain aspects of a performance are unspecified, allowing for variability in execution.

Fluxus movement

An avant-garde movement in the 1960s focused on performance art and the blending of music with visual art.

musique concrète

A form of music composition where recorded sounds are manipulated and used as raw material.

electronic music

Music produced using electronic devices and technology, including synthesizers and computers.

Harry Partch

An American composer who created a 43-note scale based on just intonation and built unique instruments for its performance.

graphic notation

A system of musical notation that uses visual symbols instead of traditional notation to convey music.

quotation in music

The use of existing music within a new composition, often transformed through modern techniques.

collage technique

A compositional method that involves blending various musical styles and quote elements from different sources.

György Ligeti

A Hungarian composer known for his unique sound textures and techniques such as micropolyphony.

new virtuosic techniques

Innovative playing techniques utilized by performers to explore the limits of their instruments.

Darmstadt

A center for new music in West Germany that fostered composers and new musical developments after World War II.

Ecstatic contemplation

A meditative state found in Messiaen's music, characterized by harmonic stasis and juxtaposition of static ideas.

acousmatic music

Music composed for listening to sounds that are produced by sound sources that are not seen.

tonal romanticism

A style of music that adheres to tonal structures while expressing romantic sentiments.

bitonality

The use of two different tonal centers in a musical composition.

Hymn to St. Cecilia

A work by Benjamin Britten, written for church choirs and reflecting his humanitarian concerns.

Noyes' Fludde

A one-act opera by Britten that involves professional and child performers, encouraging audience participation.

Serialism

A method of composition that uses a series of values to manipulate various musical parameters.

electronic sound

Sound generated or processed via electronic instruments, often used in contemporary composition.

sound mass

A compositional technique that organizes sounds into large blocks, focusing on texture and timbre.

micropolyphony

A technique developed by György Ligeti characterized by the layering of many lines moving at different rates.

Schoenberg’s methods

Compositional techniques developed by Arnold Schoenberg, including twelve-tone and serial methods.

Nationalism in music

The incorporation of national elements into musical works, often reflecting cultural identity.

modernism in music

A broad movement in music characterized by a break from traditional forms and the exploration of new ideas.

avant-garde

A term describing innovative and experimental art and music that challenges traditional aesthetic norms.

indeterminate music

Music that is not fixed in terms of rhythm, melody, or instrumentation, allowing for variability in performance.

aesthetic experience

A sensory experience of art, understood through engaging with its aspects beyond merely intellectual comprehension.

dissonance

The use of chords or harmonies that cause tension or conflict within a piece of music.

sonorism

A method that emphasizes sound's physical presence and texture over structural aspects.

transformation in music

The process of altering musical themes or sections to create variation within a composition.

transcendentalism in music

An approach in music that seeks to elevate and transport listeners through sound.

Cage’s Imaginary Landscape

A composition by John Cage that involves unconventional instruments and emphasizes the experience of sound.

electronic music studios

Creative spaces established in the mid-twentieth century where composers produced and manipulated electronic sounds.

digital music production

The practice of creating music using digital technology, often involving software and synthesizers.

music theater

An artistic form that combines music, performance, and often visual elements, challenging traditional boundaries.